Exactly what are the ocean's tides?

When we talk about tides, most of us think it's just when the ocean is higher on the beach or lower on the beach. But there's more to the tide than this. High tide is actually the crest of a really long wave.

NOAA explains, "Tides are very long-period waves that move through the oceans in response
to the forces exerted by the moon and sun. Tides originate in the oceans
and progress toward the coastlines where they appear as the regular rise
and fall of the sea surface. When the highest part, or crest, of the wave
reaches a particular location, high tide occurs; low tide corresponds to
the lowest part of the wave, or its trough. The difference in height between
the high tide and the low tide is called the tidal range."

Everyone knows that the moon's gravitational pull causes the tides. But the sun's gravitational pull also plays a role. The sun's gravitational force is only about 46 percent of the moon's, which means its pull on Earth's oceans is smaller and so too is its effect on the tides. Thus, when the moon, the sun, and Earth are aligned, the pull of the sun adds to the pull of the moon and causes extreme tides. Or, extra long waves.

And one last little fun fact, the highest tides in the world are found at the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, where they have a range of 44.6 feet!